NTSB LOOKS FOR ANSWERS IN GOVERNOR'S DEATH The investigation continues in the death of Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan. Preliminary information from an air traffic control tape showed that the pilot, Carnahan's son, reported a problem with the attitude indicator and was seeking clearance to head to better weather. After analyzing the wreckage of the Cessna 335 that was moved to the National Guard Armory in Festus, Missouri, an NTSB team found no evidence of an in-flight break up. An initial examination of the propellers showed that the engines were producing power on impact. Fuel samples showed no contamination. The plane carrying the governor, his son, and an aide crashed at 7:33 p.m. on October 16 about 10 miles northwest of Hillsboro, Missouri. The NTSB plans to release a report in about six months on the board's Web site.

HONDA EYES JET MARKETOfficials at Aero Modifications and Consulting, a branch of Greensboro, North Carolina's Atlantic Aero, said that they have been contracted by the American Honda Motor Company to design the fuselage of a small jet. A previous small twinjet design, on display at Oshkosh in 1999, was built by Mississippi State University, but "that was just a learning experience," said an Aero Mod official. So far, six CATIA (computer-assisted three-dimensional interactive application) work stations have been installed at Aero Mod's facility at Greensboro's Piedmont Triad International Airport. A 25,000-square-foot facility has been built to accommodate the work, and 4,000 square feet of office space will also be added. Rumor has it that the airplane will be about the size of a Cessna CitationJet, and be powered by Honda's own turbofans in the 700- to 1,000-lb thrust category.

EAGLE AIRCRAFT TAPS U.S. FLIGHT SCHOOLSSales of the Western Australian-made Eagle 150 two-seat airplane have taken off in the United States with an order for 24 aircraft. The sale was made to the company's Kansas-based dealer, HGL Aero. The airplane is manufactured at the company's plant located south of Perth, Australia. Eagle Aircraft CEO Nor Manshor Ghafar said that the order represented the first of an ongoing stream of dividends resulting from the company's efforts to have the 150 model certified by the FAA early last year. "Our research shows that the number of student pilots in the United States is expected to grow from about 90,000 to 140,000 over the next 10 years, which gives us a sound basis for ongoing replacement and new aircraft sales, particularly in the training market," he said. For more on the Eagle, see the Web site. SERVICE CENTERS REPLACE MALIBU ENGINE BEARINGS Lycoming has completed training of personnel at qualified service centers in several states and Europe, and replacement of defective engine bearings in 300 Malibu Mirage aircraft has begun. The connecting rod bearings are replaced without removing the engine from the aircraft. Engine bearings in the Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A have been the subject of two special advisories this year. The replacement bearings have greater weight-bearing capacity. The New Piper Aircraft Company has established a 24-hour telephone hotline for its Malibu Mirage owners at 877/879-0275, extension 2990. Piper officials said that they have serviced a quarter of the 300 affected aircraft, and have paid out nearly $40,000 in alternative transportation funds to inconvenienced customers. For daily news updates, see AOPA Online.

Inside AOPA

AOPA PARTICIPATES IN ADS-B EVALUATION The second in a series of operational evaluations integrating GPS and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B, in which an aircraft transmits its altitude and GPS-derived position instead of a traditional transponder reply) was conducted from October 26 through 28 in Louisville, Kentucky. Sponsored by the FAA and the Cargo Airline Association, OpEval-2 focused on the use of a cockpit display of traffic information, based on ADS-B data, to improve approach and departure spacing in a terminal environment. The tests also demonstrated anonymous ADS-B transmissions, comparable to squawking the VFR 1200 transponder code, and the use of airport diagrams as a moving map on aircraft multifunction displays. AOPA staff flew the association's Beech A36 Bonanza during four days of evaluation flights; AOPA President Phil Boyer and Vice President and Executive Director of Government and Technical Affairs Dennis Roberts also attended. Related technologies are being evaluated in Alaska's Capstone demonstration program (see Future Flight: Air Traffic Control's Evolution, October Pilot. AOPA OPPOSES LANCER MOA AOPA is opposing the proposed Lancer Military Operations Area (MOA) in north-central Texas. AOPA is urging area pilots to attend one of the FAA's public meetings scheduled for November 9 in Lubbock and Post, Texas. The Lancer MOA would extend from 3,000 to 18,000 feet agl. It would cover a large area underneath the existing Reese 4, Reese 5, and Roby MOAs. For more, see AOPA Online.

On Capitol Hill

ELECTION REMAINS TOO CLOSE TO CALL With a mere four days left until Americans go to the polls, most aspects of the 2000 election remain too close for anyone to call. The Senate had been expected to remain in Republican hands, but the decision by the wife of the late Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan, a Democrat, to continue her husband's Senate candidacy leaves the outcome of control in doubt. Likewise, control of the House and the presidency remain in a virtual dead heat. As the campaign cycle reaches its climax, both Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush find themselves campaigning in states they were expecting to lock up months ago. Last spring it was widely believed that Bush could expect little opposition in Florida. His brother's widespread popularity as governor was expected to place the state in Bush's hands. Gore, however, has been able to win over elderly voters, one of the largest voting constituencies in the state, by hammering home his Social Security plan. Meanwhile, Gore has been faced with the embarrassment of being unable to put Bush away in his home state of Tennessee. Not only has Bush been competitive in Tennessee, but he also holds a slight lead in such traditionally Democratic states such as Minnesota and Oregon. Finally, prospects for control of the House remain up in the air. Republicans are faced with defending many more open seats than Democrats; however, many Democrat incumbents who were considered safe are now at risk. With a mere six seats standing in the way of a Democratic takeover, the final result may not be known until well into Wednesday morning. For a closer look at the House, Senate, and presidential campaigns, visit AOPA Online for a detailed analysis of the closest races in the country.

Airport Support Network

VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK–ROBERT E. STROUP AOPA recently received several member inquiries regarding a hangar lease agreement provided to tenants of Orlando (Florida) Sanford Airport (SFB). ASN volunteer Robert E. Stroup was contacted to assist members and act as a liaison between tenants and airport management. Stroup addressed each of the user's complaints and provided timely guidance and assistance to other AOPA members. Because of the quick response time, AOPA has been afforded the opportunity to provide comments regarding a particular insurance issue that has been written into the new lease. AOPA and the hangar tenants are anxiously awaiting a response from the airport sponsor regarding revisions to the new lease.

OFFICIALS SAVE MICHIGAN AIRPORTA general aviation airport has been saved. The 140 aircraft based at New Hudson Airport in Michigan (Y47) will not have to look for a new home or be forced to use the already crowded ramps at Oakland International or Oakland Troy airports. The Michigan Bureau of Aeronautics worked with the private owner of the airport and Oakland County to preserve New Hudson after increasing costs and taxes made it impossible for the owner to hold on to it. But the owner did not want to see it used for development. State and federal grant funds were made available to Oakland County to help the county purchase the airport. The airport's future will be monitored by AOPA's new Airport Support Network volunteer, Eric Marshal.

ASF TO PROVIDE FREE VIDEOS TO PILOTSMore than 30,000 pilots will receive one of two AOPA Air Safety Foundation safety videos this year, thanks to a $200,000 grant from AOPA. AOPA President Phil Boyer presented the grant to ASF Executive Director Bruce Landsberg during AOPA Expo 2000 in Long Beach, California, last month. And to highlight ASF's fiftieth anniversary, Boyer presented the grant in the form of four $50,000 checks. The money will fund the free distribution of two ASF safety videos: Lost and Crossed and Weather Decision-Making. ASF plans to mail the VHS tapes to newly certificated private pilots and newly rated instrument pilots before the end of the year. For more information, see AOPA Online.

Quiz Me!

Here’s a question asked by an AOPA member last week of our AOPA technical specialists. Test your knowledge.

Question: Now that it’s autumn, I’m more aware of deer in the vicinity of my airport. Do you have any idea how many actual deer-related aircraft accidents there have been? Answer: The FAA maintains a database on wildlife strike occurrences. Since 1983, there have been 245 deer-related accidents that have caused serious damage to aircraft, averaging about $96,000 in damage per incident for the ones who provided estimates. Wildlife strikes should be reported to the FAA on Form 5200-7, which can be found in the Aeronautical Information Manual as Appendix 1. For more information, see the Web site.

Read the last chapter in the modification of AOPA's 2000 sweepstakes airplane, the "Millennium Mooney;" learn about Cessna 182 modifications and upgrades; and read about a Caribbean mail run in the December issue of AOPA Pilot. It will be mailed November 18.

ePilot Calendar

WEEKEND FLYING DESTINATIONSIn response to member requests, some destinations will be posted one week in advance.

Galveston, Texas. The tenth annual End of the Season Fly Day takes place November 11 at the Lone Star Flight Museum. The museum is located at Galveston International Airport-Scholes Field (GLS), 409/744-1606. Call 409/740-7722 for event information, or visit the Web site.

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. "Celebrate Freedom" is a 15-day event saluting the military personnel of World War II, beginning November 8 and continuing through November 22. Featuring a land and air parade on Veteran's Day. Static aircraft displays at Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport (GKT), 423/453-8393, and Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), 423/970-2773. Call 800/365-6993 for event information, or visit the Web site.

Stuart, Florida. The Stuart Airshow takes place November 11 and 12. Witham Field (SUA), 561/221-2373, is the host airport. Call 561/286-1844 or 800/318-0399 for event information, or visit the Web site.

Easton, Maryland. Pilots are encouraged to attend the annual Waterfowl Festival November 10 through 12. Special arrangements are made at Easton Airport (ESN), 410/770-8055, for transportation to the festival. Call 410/822-4567 for event information, or visit the Web site.

ASF FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REFRESHER CLINICS(All clinics start at 7:30 a.m.) The next AOPA Air Safety Foundation Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics are scheduled in Anchorage, Alaska; Atlanta; and Dallas, November 4 and 5. Clinics are scheduled in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Houston, Texas; and San Diego, California on November 11 and 12. For complete details, visit the Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic schedule.

ASF SAFETY SEMINARSThe next AOPA ASF Safety Seminars are scheduled in Queens, New York, November 6; Long Island, New York, November 7; Poughkeepsie, New York, November 8; Randolph, New Jersey, November 9; Cedar Rapids, Iowa, November 13; Des Moines, Iowa, November 14; and Omaha, Nebraska, November 15. For more information see Web site.

ASF PINCH HITTER GROUND-SCHOOL COURSES(Pinch Hitter courses start at 9:30 a.m.) The next Pinch-Hitterï¿½ Ground School will take place November 5 in Anchorage, Alaska. For details and a complete schedule, see the Pinch Hitter Ground School Schedule.

AOPA PILOT TOWN MEETINGSFeaturing AOPA President Phil Boyer (7:30 p.m.; admission is free) The next Pilot Town Meetings are in Baltimore, November 13; Las Vegas, November 28; Prescott, Arizona, November 29; and Phoenix, November 30. Click for more information on Pilot Town Meetings.

For comments on calendar items or to make submissions, contact Julie Walker at [email protected].

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